Close Menu
  • Bayside News Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Friday, July 18
Facebook X (Twitter)
Bayside News
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Police investigate Bonbeach collision
Breaking News
Bayside News
Home»News»Boxing world mourns loss of a champion
News

Boxing world mourns loss of a champion

Brodie CowburnBy Brodie Cowburn8 August 2022Updated:18 July 2024No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Farewell Fammo Johnny Famechon (pictured above in 2014), a boxing legend and Frankston local, has died. A statue of the boxing icon stands in Ballam Park, commemorating his brilliant career in the ring. Pictures: Gary Sissons
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

BOXING legend Johnny Famechon has died aged 77.

Famechon, a Frankston resident for five decades, was born Jean-Pierre in France. He moved to Australia as a young child with his family and quickly took to boxing, making his pro debut at Festival Hall aged just 16.

In the ring, Famechon was a plucky and skilled boxer who fought with heart. He skipped amateur boxing and rose through the ranks quickly after debuting, with his strong defensive style setting him apart from the rest.

Famechon’s crowning glory came in 1969. In front of a huge crowd in the main event at Royal Albert Hall in London, Famechon scored an upset world title win over highly favoured champion Jose Legra.

Famechon held the WBC World Featherweight Title for more than a year before eventually losing it to top contender Vicente Salvidar. His legendary title defences against Japan’s Fighting Harada have gone down in history.

Soon after losing the title, Famechon hung up the gloves. He finished with an impressive record of 56-5-6. He was never knocked out.

Around the same time as his boxing career finished he embarked on the next stage of his life. Famechon moved to Frankston in 1970, and had two children soon afterwards. He married his second wife, long-time partner Glenys, in 1997.

Since moving to Frankston, Famechon has been an active member of the community. He helped local police run the Frankston Blue Light Boxing Club.

In 1991 Famechon was hit by a car while jogging. He suffered life-changing injuries, but learned to walk and talk again. He suffered from health issues resulting from the accident for the rest of his life.

This year, Famechon received a fitting final honour. For his contributions to boxing, he was made a member of the Order of Australia on Queen’s Birthday.

Although he only stood at 5 foot 5 inches tall, the man affectionately known as “Fammo” was larger than life. A statue commemorating his career towers over Ballam Park in Frankston, a fitting tribute to a resilient warrior who refused to be knocked down.

First published in the Frankston Times – 9 August 2022

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Brodie Cowburn
Brodie Cowburn

Related Posts

Shopping Centre Affray

16 July 2025

Fire brigade celebrates century

16 July 2025

Council appoints interim CEO

16 July 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click Here to Read

1 July 2025
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click Here to Read

3 June 2025
Property of the Week

34 Pine Hill Drive, Frankston

21 March 2025
Council Watch

Council considers LGBTQIA+ initiatives

11 June 2025

New conditions applied to grants

4 June 2025
100 Years Ago this Week

Electric light – Change over of system gives good results

14 July 2025
Interviews

Writing racecourse history

6 February 2024
Contact

Street: 1/15 Wallis Drive, Hastings, 3915
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915

Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Police investigate Bonbeach collision
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.